Programs
Below are the current programs and projects of Milwaukee Riverkeeper. To see past programs, visit Programs Archive
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a member of SWWT (the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust). SWWT is collaborative effort to achieve healthy and sustainable water resources throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds.
There is an effort underway to privatize the Milwaukee Water Works system, an effort which is moving quickly and quietly. Milwaukee Riverkeeper has teamed up with area water advocates to fight the proposed privatization. Join us in the fight to keep Milwaukee's water resources public!
Milwaukee Riverkeeper (then known as Friends of the Menomonee River) orginally formed to protect the County Grounds in Wauwatosa from overdevelopment. Fourteen years later, we are returning to our roots to protect large portions of the County Grounds from being sold for development.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is working to establish a watershed-wide network of trained citizen volunteers who monitor streams and rivers, collecting information in a consistent and useable format.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper has begun work on a new project aimed at reducing bacteria and pathogen loads in the Menomonee River. Based on modeling by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Comission (SEWRPC), bacteria from human fecal sources (fecal coliform bacteria) are much greater than anticipated at a section of the river between Burleigh Ave. and 60th St.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper worked in collaboration with groups locally and throughout the Great Lakes Region to advocate for passage of the Great Lakes Compact, to protect Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes from water diversions and other threats to lake health. We continue to monitor the implementation of the compact locally.
SWAN is a network of adults aged 50+ who are advocates for Lake Michigan and Milwaukee's rivers. We offer training and workshops for those who want to speak out on behalf of area rivers. The next SWAN workshop is scheduled for Summer 2010.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper, acting as part of the Milwaukee River Work Group, has been working to create a Central Park along the Milwaukee River Corridor between North Avenue and Silver Spring Drive. The Milwaukee River Work Group seeks to create a special zoning district that would protect the Milwaukee River Corridor, keeping the wild character of the area intact.
Each year Milwaukee Riverkeeper organizes thousands of volunteers to clean up rivers, streams and parks in the Milwaukee River Basin. Volunteers pull hundreds of thousands of pounds of garbage out of waterways and surrounding land, improving wildlife habitat water quality and aesthetics.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is licensed by the Waterkeeper Alliance to protect our waterways. As the Milwaukee Riverkeeper, we identify sources of pollution on our rivers, respond to citizen complaints and concerns, and work to find solutions to water quality hazards. Our Riverkeeper Boat allows us to conduct weekly patrols of the Milwaukee River estuary.
Watershed Maps
Bacteria Map "Google Maps"
Bacteria Map "Google Earth" required
Watershed Map "Google Earth" required
Water Monitoring Map "JPEG"
Milwaukee Urban Water Trail "Google Earth" required
